Case
Talking like a white girl

I work at an inner-city school and I am the only white person in the classroom. Whenever I have a behavior issue with a student, I follow our school guidelines. When discussing it with my mentor teacher and team leader, they always respond that I need to quit talking to my students like a white girl. They inform me that my students come from the ghetto and sometimes it is necessary to be loud and "ghetto" to get respect from students. I don't agree with this. Any suggestions of how to get respect from my students and have them follow the rules of the classroom?

Posted on: 03/10/15 | Views: 1999
Solution #1
Top Solution
I have been in your situation before. I don't think this has anything to do with being a "white girl", but more to do with the tone of your voice. I don't think you need to be "ghetto", but stern. In their culture they are use to their parents being very hard on them. I think that if you have a more stern tone and don't back down when they sass you back this should help. I think once you are able to show your authority in the classroom they will respect you. Also, remember that if you send them to another teacher or adult that tells them that you can't handle them and you "give up".

I agree that the teacher must reflect an authoritative demeanor. Once that's established, students will drop the "talk like a white girl" gimmick and respect you as you are.

I never thought about sending students to other teachers as a sign of "giving up". That is great insight and I will keep that in mind for the future.

I agree and think this is a fabulous solution

I agree, your tone does not determine the authority and the other administration/staff, should not have said that. Just because a student comes from a certain background demographics, does not mean that it should be carried into the school.

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Solution #2
Top Solution
Well I'm an African American teacher, but I'm very small AND I look like I could be one of my students.Students initially thought they would be able to run all over me because of my size. I was one that never liked to raise my voice at my students, but what I have realized is that it took about two times for me to actually drop to my students level and tell them that they didn't know who they were talking to like that, and once I showed them I wasn't about to let them treat me any type of way, it really helped. I'm not saying get "ghetto" with them because then they will take you for a joke, but sometimes you have to show them that you aren't going to let them disrespect you.

Thank you!! This seems more like something I would do and want to do. I don't believe in yelling and I push for positive reinforcement. Thank you so much.

This sounds like a good idea. You don't want them to get too comfortable with how nice you are.

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Solution #3
I think they mean that you should be using a more stern and down to business tone of voice. As a teacher in a setting that is unlike you grew up in, it can be easy to become a pushover. If you tell the kids they will be disciplined if they act a certain way you need to follow through. Otherwise, the students will think they can get away with anything.

Follow through is so important! Good note.

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Solution #4
I have been in this situation and what I found out is that you don't have to change how you talk but more so the way you say things. I have found the best way to reinforce rules/expectations is to just be very matter of fact. I don't yell, I don't roll my eyes or anything disrespectful, but I'd simply say things like, "Well, the expectation is X, and you did Y, so Z happens. I'm so, so sorry," and it has really worked. It sends out the message that everyone gets the same exact treatment, so the question of fairness is never tried. Yes, I have seen African-American teachers talk to their students as if they were their own children, which I feel isn't my character, so I chose to be dry instead. I have also found that by saying please and thank you helps and addressing students by "ladies and gentlemen" rather than "girls and boys" is also effective with a difficult population. Also- the quieter and more calmly I speak, the more surprised the kid seems to be, since I think that a lot of the times behavior issues tend to want to get a rise out of teachers for humor, and they usually chill. I do get joked on for "being white-ish" by some students, but as the year progressed, they have responded quite positively to my "uniqueness".

I really like your reponse and will stay calm and dry with students who are disrespectful. Telling them what their expectations are and when they do something against those expectations remind them of what is expected of them. I am a bubbly small white girl and I will probably have this encounter sometime in my teaching career, and I do not want to have to change my beliefs of how to treat students, like yelling and being "ghetto", to get them to behave how I expect them to.

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Solution #5
I would implement a behavior system with STRICT consequences. I know what you are talking about and unfortunately some students need that alpha authority. I was in an all African American school and several teachers quit because the kids did not respect them. There was one teacher that had all the control, he was a zero-tolerance kind of person and was very firm...and loud. Good luck
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Solution #6
Well I'm an African American teacher, but I'm very small AND I look like I could be one of my students.Students initially thought they would be able to run all over me because of my size. I was one that never liked to raise my voice at my students, but what I have realized is that it took about two times for me to actually drop to my students level and tell them that they didn't know who they were talking to like that, and once I showed them I wasn't about to let them treat me any type of way, it really helped. I'm not saying get "ghetto" with them because then they will take you for a joke, but sometimes you have to show them that you aren't going to let them disrespect you.

This was already posted in # 2.

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Solution #7
There is no need to get "ghetto" the students are just looking for you to be firm with them.
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Solution #8
I also don't agree with this. One way to get your student to respect you and your race is to show them that we are all the same. whether we talk different, have different colored skin we are all people with feelings and deserve respect. If you show you really care I feel they will give you their respect.
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Solution #9
Your team leader and mentor are only showing you the way that they see it working. You can try different things as a teacher, thats how you learn and become better. I volunteer in a situation almost the exact same as yours and I have seen how my teacher and mentors work with the class and I have made my own way of doing things with my students. I love them dearly, but because I am soft spoken and very kind, they think that they can walk over me. Lately I have made it clear in a nice caring way that this is not okay. I sat them down and had a one on one. I told them them that even though I am only here a few days a week, does not mean I don't deserve the respect that my teachers get. I told them gently that I am not playing with them anymore and if they can't respect me, then they will have to be punished. Ever since then, my kids have been nothing but good when I am around. Sometimes students in this situation need to understand that you love them, but they cannot do bad things, because it is simply not okay.
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Solution #10
I feel you need to have a stronger classroom management plan and let your students know the expectations you have for them. Tell them about the positive and negatives that come from following these rules and expectations. With that you will need to follow through on your rewards and consequences. With a continued routine and relating to your students while still balancing a professional position you should be bale to connect with your students and have the behaviors decrease.
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Solution #11
Honestly, it seems like this is not a safe environment for you to be placed in and that there should be a further discussion of how you feel and allow administration to understand that you are not being respected and are being treated quite unfairly.
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Solution #12
Do not listen to your peers as this is not the way to gain respect from student. Talk to your student the way you deem is ethical.
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Solution #13
Your tone and volume might be just what you need to get your students attention, but this shouldnt mean you have to change your voice. find a happy medium!
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Solution #14
I do not believe that this is necessary either, creating an environment where students get respect will also harbor their respect for you.
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Solution #15
i would just be stern with the students & allow the roles of you being the adult to be strict & shown. when you allow punishment to be placed when a student does not respect you, then more respect will come from other students
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Solution #16
Definitely do not listen to them, and the word "ghetto" should really not be used to describe students of lower ses. You do need to be authoritative and let students know that you are the boss of the classroom and that if they do not follow your rules and procedures, their actions will have consequences. Usually it is most effective to earn students respect on the first day vy being prepared and showing students what it will be like in your classroom as well as what your expectations for them are.
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Solution #17
I think you should talk to your mentor teacher and team lead and ask them what they mean by that and let them know that you do not like the way they worded that to you.
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Solution #18
I do not think it is necessary to stop talking like a white girl. That does not mean that you shouldn't try to relate to your students and their culture. There are other ways to do that, such as incorporating things from their culture into your classroom. I also think that setting expectations is key to good classroom management, and getting the students to also help set the rules, expectations and consequences will allow the students to feel more responsible for following these.
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Solution #19
I am so sorry but it is a very hard subject to touch. I understand where they think you should get to "their" level but you can have a manageable classroom without doing that. You have to find what interest them and what does get their attention. Ask them for their opinion on their learning and how you can make your classroom environment different.

Good idea.

I agree. Sometimes it is needed to raise your voice or get to that level.

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Solution #20
Watch the movie "Freedom Writers"

I agree. I have seen the movie and I am a big fan of it.

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Solution #21
I am in a similar situation, and it does really help if I "get on their level." You have to dish whatever they dish to you right back at them, and they quickly get the point. I sometimes throw in a rapper name to use in a sentence example and they love it. Little things like that go a long way to make them respect you too. It has a greater effect because they know you go out of your way to listen to it just for them....I clearly don't like rap and they know it.
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Solution #22
This is hard to think about

I'm not sure how this helps her situation.

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Solution #23
Make sure you talk correctly because we want to be a model for our students. We really work on making the kids talk in complete sentences at all times in our school, and it really helps their writing.

I don't see how she can change the way she talks.

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